HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - July 18, 2025
Published: Fri, 07/18/25
Updated: Wed, 07/23/25
=================================================================
HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - July 18, 2025
=================================================================
In this week's tip, we help relieve you of some of the burden of being a condo/HOA board member. Our management and legal experts have suggestions for nudging your do-little fellow board members into doing their jobs—or to step aside to let someone more productive step in.
It's true that some board members are no more active than potted plants. But Jonathan R. Zim, a partner who advises community associations at Eisinger Law in Hollywood, Fla., which represents 600-700 associations throughout the state, recommends we all remember one important fact.
“These are volunteer board members,” he says. “They don't get paid, and they're not all retirees. Some have full-time jobs or even multiple jobs. But the majority are hard-working individuals who are hopefully doing what's right for their community.”
That's worth keeping in mind because some board members may be doing the minimum. But you want more. You'll have to work through that dilemma on a case-by-case basis.
The board members who literally do nothing? That's a different kettle of fish.
Education is probably your best first step. “That's a tough one,” says Robin Strohm, CCAL, a partner at Williams & Strohm LLC in Columbus, Ohio, who has represented condos and HOAs throughout Ohio for more than 20 years.
“Usually what I try to do is to point out in the declaration or the bylaws—and it's mainly in the bylaws—where there may be a description of what the president, secretary, treasurer should do, and we go over that,” she explains. “We also go over the general duties of those officers and directors. I usually like to have the manager there so we talk about who does what and who the point of contact is going to be.”
Declarations or bylaws also typically have descriptions of the roles and duties of directors at large. If your uninterested board member isn't an officer, you can walk through those director descriptions, too.
“Other than that, it's difficult,” says Strohm. “You can't make people do something. I try to coach them by saying, ‘Look, you have owners who elected you to the board, and you agreed to serve your community. And everybody has a voice at the table.'
“Sometimes this issue comes up when you have a really strong board member, someone who's very opinionated, and sometimes other board members don't feel like they can speak up or that their vote doesn't count,” she adds. “I try to make sure everybody knows that everybody's voice has to be heard and that everybody has a vote on board matters. Boards aren't driven by just two members.”
Zim agrees. “I emphasize that each board member should have their own voice and shouldn't just go along with the crowd,” he explains. “The whole purpose of a board is to have independent minds coming together to make decisions in the best interest of the members.”
This is where a skilled board president or chair can coach board members over time by seeking the opinions of the quiet directors during board meetings. “Board members aren't necessarily obligated to weigh in on every issue, and there are different personalities we're dealing with,” says Zim. “Some board members may be more willing to weigh in, and then there's a vote. But having the chair inquire with the quieter members could be a way to get them to participate.”
It may also help to give some directors a job to do. “What I've seen be helpful is giving some board members certain responsibilities,” says Zim. “Maybe you have one director head the contract for the security system and discussions related to that. You can also assign a board member to be the chair of a committee that assists the board at large.”
Robert E. Ducharme, founder of Ducharme Law in Stratham, N.H., who specializes in representing community associations, has message similar to Strohm's, with a kicker. Read more in our new article: https://www.hoaleader.com/members/5139.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
=================================================================
Upcoming Event
The Alarming Rise of Condo/HOA Board Recalls and How You Can Avoid the Fighting, Stress, and Devastating Cost
An Exclusive HOAleader.com Webinar
With Practical Tips for Condo and HOA Boards
Thursday, August 7, 2025
2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern
Learn more or register now: https://www.hoaleader.com/products/alarming-rise-of-condo-hoa-board-recalls-a.cfm
Members save $30!
=================================================================
Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
=================================================================
Tech-Savvy Condo/HOA Manager Shares His Best AI Secrets
“AI is here,” says Brad van Rooyen, president of Folio Association Management, a Florida-based firm that manages 90,000 residents and 45,000 homes across Florida that was recently integrated into Odevo, a global community association management firm. “It’s not going anywhere. It’s not a fad.”
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/TechSavvy-Condo-HOA-Manager-Shares-His-Best-AI-Secrets.cfm
=================================================================
5 Effective Ways This Condo/HOA Manager Is Using AI
“AI is here,” says Brad van Rooyen, president of Folio Association Management, a Florida-based firm that manages 90,000 residents and 45,000 homes across Florida that was recently integrated into Odevo, a global community association management firm. “It’s not going anywhere. It’s not a fad."
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/5-Effective-Ways-This-Condo-HOA-Manager-Using-AI.cfm
=================================================================
Why Your Condo/HOA Needs to Take the Low—But Real—Risk of E-Vehicle Fires Seriously
In this week’s tip, we provide some context and advice in response to reports we’re hearing that more condos with shared garages are implementing safety procedures or restrictions to avoid electric vehicle or electric bike fires—in some communities, banning ebike parking and storage altogether...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Why-Your-Condo-HOA-Needs-Take-LowBut-RealRisk-EVehicle-Fires-Seriously.cfm
=================================================================
Both EVs and eBikes Post Safety Risks: Is Your Condo Prepared?
We’re hearing that more condos with shared garages are implementing safety procedures or restrictions to avoid electric vehicle or electric bike fires—in some communities, banning ebike parking and storage altogether...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Both-EVs-eBikes-Post-Safety-Risks-Your-Condo-Prepared.cfm
=================================================================
Why It’s Not Such a Baaaaad Idea for Your Condo/HOA to Hire Goats
An Idaho HOA needs to clear brush to reduce its fire risk, and an expert started bleating on about how goats could do the job. “That’s what goats do—they defoliate everything,” says Heather Lombard, goat herder in chief at Scapegoats. “I’ve heard of goats being used in active fires. They place them along a line so they’ll eat everything along the line, and the fires will stop where the goats have eaten.”
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Why-Its-Not-Such-Baaaaad-Idea-for-Your-Condo-HOA-Hire-Goats.cfm
=================================================================
SPECIAL REPORT DOWNLOAD
HOA Policies: 43 Sample Policies Every Homeowners Association Board of Directors Should Consider
In this new and expanded special report, we lay the groundwork for your board to draft policies and procedures governing a broad scope of board practices and community association life. You'll find 43 sample policies released exclusively to you by HOAleader.com's expert contributors, including 18 brand-new policies. Governing documents and state laws vary, but these samples can serve as a baseline for you to work with your attorney to craft policies that comply with your governing documents and state laws.
Members can download the report here:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/HOA-Policies.cfm
Not a member yet? Start your free trial membership and download your copy today:
http://www.hoaleader.com/details.cfm
=================================================================
Get your own copy!
Subscribe to the HOAleader.com Tip of the Week here:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/department49.cfm
=================================================================
Please feel free to forward the *entire text* of this email to others.
Copyright 2025, Plain-English Media, LLC
(866) 641-4548
https://www.hoaleader.com
Plain-English Media, 909 Marina Village Parkway #183, Alameda, CA 94501, USA
To unsubscribe or change subscriber options, visit:
https://www.aweber.com/z/r/?ThisIsATestEmail